Falling - Cathy Dennis

Cathy Dennis was born as Catherine Roseanne Dennis on March 25, 1969 in Norwich, England. As a teenager she was spotted recording demos at The Kitchen in Norwich. Simon Fuller signed her to his 19 Management company and to label Polydor at age 17. A successful career in music followed.

'Falling' was the third single from Cathy's second album 'Into the skyline'. The track was remixed for the single release by the then-popular band PM Dawn. It peaked at number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2667

Found: Record fair, Leeds, June 30, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Falling (PM Dawn version)' / 'Nothing moves me'

Do it again with Billie Jean - Club House

Club House was an Italian disco and house music studio group from Italy. They had a big hit in 1983 with their medley of two hits: the then-current 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson and the oldie 'Do it again' by Steely Dan. These days, a track like this would be called a mashup. The single got to number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983. They also made the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 75.

I recorded the track from the radio back in 1983 - and now, a quarter of a century later, I decided to do the honorable thing and get the single as well. On discount, of course. It's not that good.

My collection: 7" single no. 3611

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 21, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Do it again with Billie Jean' / 'Infusion'

Don't let it get you down - Echo and the Bunnymen

'Don't let it get you down' was the third single by Echo & the Bunnymen after three band members Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson reformed the band in 1997. The single was released in three different formats and peaked at number 50 in the UK singles chart. The 7" single was the only format to contain the demo version of 'Don't let it get you down'.

I didn't buy any Echo & the Bunnyman singles previously, and only got this one because it was playing in the shop. I thought it was a nice song, so I snapped up the 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2904

Found: HMV, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Don't let it get you down' / 'Don't let it get you down (demo)'

He's so dull - Vanity 6

The story of this single is similar to the one about 'Nasty girl': both Vanity 6 singles I owned were deleted from my collection in an act of revisionism. I always regret getting rid of singles - although I do confess I've shed no tears about the Dutch-language singles I've gotten rid of in the Eighties.

'He's so dull' is significantly less exciting that 'Nasty girl', but I still couldn't resist buying it again - especially since it was so cheap. I've got a feeling I won't be playing this one much, but at least I won't be missing this one from my collection anymore. Sometimes having a single is just about enough.

My collection: 7" single no. 3613

Found: Kringloop Holland, March 21, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'He's so dull' / 'Make-up'

Alléluia - Milk and Honey

While Europe got an English-language version of 'Hallelujah' in 1979, after Milk & Honey won the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, France got their own release of this song. The single featured a French and Hebrew version of the song. Especially the French version is a rarity, since it was released in France only.

I ordered this single from France, since I never saw it here. I'm currently in the process of compiling alternate language versions of Eurovision winners on cd, and most of them appear on websites for download - but this one is extremely hard to find.

My collection: 7" single no. 3610
Found: eBay, France, received March 20, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Alléluia (Version française)' / 'Alléluia (Version hebraique)'

Shoot your shot - Divine

Harvey Glenn Milstead was born on October 19, 1945. He started out as an actor, playing in various theatre pieces in New York in the Seventies. He also played in several movies in the Seventies and Eighties. Meanwhile, he had a successful music career, singing hi-energy disco music as a drag queen named Divine. His initial singles were produced by Bobby Orlando. The synth-heavy music was also composed, created and performed by Bobby 'O'.

'Shoot your shot' was his biggest hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 3 in 1983. Divine died on March 7, 1988 as a result of heart failure.

My collection: 7" single no. 3612

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 21, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Shoot your shot' / 'Shoot your shot (instrumental)'

A piece of the action - The Babys

This orchestral rock song was released by the Babys in early 1978. It didn't chart in the UK, where only the earlier single 'Isn't it time' made it into the chart, but in the Netherlands they peaked at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. It's not their best chart performance: two other singles made it into the top 10.

My collection: 7" single no. 825

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'A piece of the action' / 'Read my stars'